The Ocean Defenders Project

Case Studies

Navigate the map and narratives of case studies below to gain insights into threats to, challenges facing, and resistance efforts of ocean defenders around the world.

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Argentina
National

Defending the Sea from Offshore Oil Exploration in Argentina

This case study examines the social mobilization against offshore oil exploration in Argentina, sparked in 2022 after government authorization for seismic surveys near Mar del Plata. The movement, led by…
Philippines
Local

Ancestral Waters: Calamian Tagbanwa People reclaim title and revitalize governance over land and sea territories in Palawan, the Philippines

The Tagbanwa People of the Calamian Islands are navigating complex legal issues in the Philippines to resist incursions from external development pressures and reclaim, govern, and manage their ancestral domains…
India
Local

Resilience Amidst Turmoil: The Ongoing Struggles of Chilika Lagoon’s Small-Scale Fishers Against Aquaculture and Sea Mouth Opening

The Chilika Lagoon, located in eastern India, is a 1100 km² brackish water ecosystem that hosts a stunning array of ecosystems and species and is a vital resource for small-scale…
Bangladesh
Sub-National

Guardians of Moheshkhali: Defending Traditional Ways of Living by the Sea Against Unsustainable Blue Growth 

Launched in 2015, the Matarbari Mega Project seeks to transform Moheshkhali Island into an economic hub, including a coal power plant and port facilities. Despite promises of modernization, the project…
Brazil
Sub-National

Fishers’ struggles during and after the 2019 Southwest Atlantic oil spill

Brazilian coastal small-scale fishing communities were hit by a large and ongoing oil spill from an unknown source between August 2019 and June 2020. Fishers were left without proper government…
Brazil
National

Seeking Blue Justice through the “Popular Court of the Sea Economy” in Brazil

In Brazil, a “Popular Court of the Sea Economy” was established in 2022 as an act of resistance against historical and on-going socio-environmental harms caused by Ocean Economy sectors. Led…
Cameroon
Local

“We’re scared of the future”: Struggles between small-scale fishers and foreign industrial trawlers in Limbe, Cameroon

Marginalization and oppression are the common lived experiences of small-scale fishing actors in Cameroon. The rapid expansion of industrial fishing is squeezing out local fishers and threatening small-scale fishing livelihoods,…
Turkey
National

Advocating for small-scale fishers’ rights and sustainable marine conservation in Türkiye: The Association of Istanbul Fishing Cooperatives (Istanbul Birlik)

Overfishing and the overcapacity of the industrial fishing fleet are putting immense pressure on marine ecosystems and fishers’ livelihoods in Türkiye. In response, small-scale fishing cooperatives in Istanbul, organized under…
Senegal
Local

Diambari Sine: Women’s fish processing organization leads the resistance against industrial fisheries and fishmeal factories in Senegal

In Senegal women are central in marketing and processing fishing catches, mainly coastal small pelagics. Despite gaining social status and financial autonomy through this, they face challenges from industrial overfishing…
Ghana
National

Blue Justice? Impacts of oil exploration on small-scale fishers in Ghana

In Ghana’s Western region, over 150,000 small-scale fishers are struggling with the impact of offshore oil exploration, which has restricted their access to traditional fishing grounds. These regulations have drastically…

Case Studies

Argentina
National
Case Study

Defending the Sea from Offshore Oil Exploration in Argentina

This case study examines the social mobilization against offshore oil exploration in Argentina, sparked in 2022 after government authorization for seismic surveys near Mar del Plata. The movement, led by the Asamblea por un Mar Libre de Petroleras, brought together citizens, scientists, NGOs, and local governments to contest extractivist development and demand democratic participation in ocean governance.

Threat

Offshore oil and gas exploration

Philippines
Local
Case Study

Ancestral Waters: Calamian Tagbanwa People reclaim title and revitalize governance over land and sea territories in Palawan, the Philippines

The Tagbanwa People of the Calamian Islands are navigating complex legal issues in the Philippines to resist incursions from external development pressures and reclaim, govern, and manage their ancestral domains on land and in the sea.

Threat

Climate Change, Coastal and Maritime Tourism, Marine Conservation

India
Local
Case Study

Resilience Amidst Turmoil: The Ongoing Struggles of Chilika Lagoon’s Small-Scale Fishers Against Aquaculture and Sea Mouth Opening

The Chilika Lagoon, located in eastern India, is a 1100 km² brackish water ecosystem that hosts a stunning array of ecosystems and species and is a vital resource for small-scale fishing communities. However, it faces disruption from shrimp aquaculture and an opening of the lagoon to the sea. These disruptions are directly affecting environmental dynamics, altering access rights, and impacting small-scale fishers.

Threat

Aquaculture

Bangladesh
Sub-National
Case Study

Guardians of Moheshkhali: Defending Traditional Ways of Living by the Sea Against Unsustainable Blue Growth 

Launched in 2015, the Matarbari Mega Project seeks to transform Moheshkhali Island into an economic hub, including a coal power plant and port facilities. Despite promises of modernization, the project has caused environmental harm and displaced 20,000 locals, impacting livelihoods and cultural identity. Since 2018, local ocean defenders have protested, resulting in successes like the cancellation of certain coal plants. Yet, the struggle to preserve heritage and environment against industrial expansion persists. This highlights the crucial role of community involvement in development decisions and the ongoing need for a sustainable and culturally sensitive approach to economic growth.

Threat

Maritime Transport, Ports and Related Services

Brazil
Sub-National
Case Study

Fishers’ struggles during and after the 2019 Southwest Atlantic oil spill

Brazilian coastal small-scale fishing communities were hit by a large and ongoing oil spill from an unknown source between August 2019 and June 2020. Fishers were left without proper government assistance, so together with volunteers they mobilized to try to clean coastal environments themselves. Though the oil spill was an ecological and socioeconomic disaster that affected fisheries and tourism, it was never properly addressed or even fully investigated.

Threat

Offshore oil and gas exploration

Brazil
National
Case Study

Seeking Blue Justice through the “Popular Court of the Sea Economy” in Brazil

In Brazil, a “Popular Court of the Sea Economy” was established in 2022 as an act of resistance against historical and on-going socio-environmental harms caused by Ocean Economy sectors. Led by a nationwide movement of fisherfolk ocean defenders, it aims to defend traditional fishing communities’ rights, fight environmental racism, and preserve traditional ways of life. Despite challenges, the movement has gained political influence and achieved successes, including involvement in the Ministry of Aquaculture and Fisheries as of 2023 after federal presidential elections, while fighting for policy changes and environmental protection.

Threat

Cameroon
Local
Case Study

“We’re scared of the future”: Struggles between small-scale fishers and foreign industrial trawlers in Limbe, Cameroon

Marginalization and oppression are the common lived experiences of small-scale fishing actors in Cameroon. The rapid expansion of industrial fishing is squeezing out local fishers and threatening small-scale fishing livelihoods, leaving many uncertain about their future. Foreign industrial trawlers are operating with impunity for transgressions while being protected by the government and military. This dynamic has led to constant conflicts between small-scale fishers and industrial vessels. Local small-scale fishers endeavor to voice their concerns whenever and to whomever they can but are restricted with limited powers to organize and protest for the environment and their rights.

Threat

Fisheries, Ilegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fisheries

Turkey
National
Case Study

Advocating for small-scale fishers’ rights and sustainable marine conservation in Türkiye: The Association of Istanbul Fishing Cooperatives (Istanbul Birlik)

Overfishing and the overcapacity of the industrial fishing fleet are putting immense pressure on marine ecosystems and fishers’ livelihoods in Türkiye. In response, small-scale fishing cooperatives in Istanbul, organized under Istanbul Birlik, are rising against this threat. They are working to build an alternative economic model to protect small-scale fishers’ fish, seas, identity, and livelihoods.

Threat

Fisheries

Senegal
Local
Case Study

Diambari Sine: Women’s fish processing organization leads the resistance against industrial fisheries and fishmeal factories in Senegal

In Senegal women are central in marketing and processing fishing catches, mainly coastal small pelagics. Despite gaining social status and financial autonomy through this, they face challenges from industrial overfishing and fishmeal production, depleting crucial sardinella stocks. Women-led groups like Diambari sine advocate for sustainable fishing and resist detrimental industrial activities, striving to preserve their maritime culture and ensure sustainable fisheries management.

Threat

Fisheries

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